STUART — A 29-year-old Stuart Middle School teacher was arrested Thursday on a sexual battery charge, after accusations that a student performed sexual acts on him during or after school hours on campus, records show.

Jeffrey Tomasulo, of the 700 block of Mixon Place in Stuart, was arrested at 7 p.m. Thursday. The teen girl identified as the victim told Martin County sheriff’s officials the incidents occurred between Jan. 4 and March 20 and that a school resource deputy was alerted to “allegations of suspicious behavior regarding a seventh-grade math teacher at his school.”

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said Friday he believes Tomasulo was a teacher at Stuart Middle School for a year.

“This is as bad as it gets,” Snyder said. “A 13-year-old with an adult teacher getting sexually battered. It doesn’t get worse.”

According to a statement emailed Friday afternoon from the Martin County School District, district personnel "immediately notified the Department of Children and Families and the (sheriff's) school resource officer on campus regarding the suspicious behavior reported by a student."

Jamie Penn Adcock, public information and community relations specialist for the district, wrote in an email the teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and reassigned. Upon notice of his arrest, his employment was terminated.

According to Tomasulo's arrest affidavit, he is accused of pressuring a 13-year-old student to perform sexual acts on him about five times.

The girl told sheriff’s officials Tomasulo started asking her “creepy” questions about her virginity, which led to Tomasulo asking her to stay late after class and also to arrive at his classroom during first period, according to the arrest affidavit. Tomasulo does not have class during his first period.

The girl told investigators she performed these acts on him either during first period, as well as after last period, according to the arrest affidavit.

The report also said an investigator spoke with the student’s parents, who found out about the acts when the student told her mother about them.

During a polygraph test, Tomasulo initially denied performing sexual acts, but later said the student had been sexually aggressive toward him, according to the arrest affidavit. Tomasulo later told investigators she performed sexual acts on him, while they were alone in his classroom.

“If you look at the affidavit, it almost looks like he’d (Tomasulo) like to transfer blame to our 13-year-old, which is mind-numbing,” Snyder said. “I’m not sure how any adult gets to the place where somehow you think a 13-year-old can make a choice to engage in that kind of activity. … It was a full-blown sexual battery, this wasn’t just a fondling case.”

Investigators also received statements from girls indicating that Tomasulo tickled them and made them uncomfortable, according to the arrest affidavit.

Tomasulo was arrested and taken to the Martin County Jail, where his bond amount is $250,000, according to a jail official.

Snyder said he believes there could be other victims.

Parents were largely unaware Friday morning of Tomasulo’s arrest.

Karla Preissman, whose son attends Stuart Middle School, said there was “no buzz” about the math teacher at an Easter egg hunt that she attended with numerous parents in Sewall’s Point.

At about 12:30 p.m. Friday, Stuart Middle School sent an automated phone message to parents about Tomasulo and the accusations of inappropriate relationships, Preissman said.

Preissman said she trusts school staff handled the situation appropriately. The message put her at ease, she said.

“I feel for the family,” Priessman said. “I feel for the (victims).”

The school district was closed Friday for a scheduled holiday.

A letter from Principal Krakoff to parents of Stuart Middle School:

"Good afternoon Stuart Middle School students, parents, and families. This is Principal David Krakoff calling today to share that there has been an incident involving one of our Stuart Middle School teachers having inappropriate contact with students at Stuart Middle School. This teacher’s actions resulted in his arrest.

At the end of the day on Monday, March 26, our administration was made aware of allegations of inappropriate contact between this teacher and students. We immediately reported the incident to the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. At this time we removed the teacher from the classroom pending investigation into the allegations.

Because this involves an active investigation and is now a police matter, the District cannot comment further.

At Martin County School District, the safety and security of our children is our number-one priority. We all share in the responsibility to protect our children and ask everyone to be vigilant and to have important conversations with their children about inappropriate relationships with any adult.

In addition, we understand that you and your students have questions and concerns about what you may have read. School psychologists are available at the school for any student, faculty, or staff member who needs additional support.

If any parents or students have any information concerning inappropriate conduct by any faculty, staff or other employee of the District, please contact the Martin County School District's Compliance Officer at 219-1200 ext. 30240 or cellular 772-285-5427.